The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-07-23
AMUSING THE CHILDREN.


The secret of making children happy
is in keeping them busy. Little children
often tire of their dolls and costly toys,
and desire something new and different,
and they are always pleased to have very
simple materials, such as bits of bright
paper, sticks and straws, utilized for
their pleasure. As it is not always easy
for the mother to invent some new play
at time when she is tired and the chill
dren are fretting, I will give few sug-
gestions which can be reserved in mind
against the trying moment.
will begin with paper shawls and
bonnets, which can be made for family
of dolls in very few moments. IL no
bright pieces of thin or tissue paper are
convenient, use the common white or straw
colored. Place the paper around the
doll for measuring. After cutting out
the garments, point them around the
edges for trimming, and tie thread
around the neck of the doll to hold them
in place. OF course the paper will re-
main in shape as it is pressed, and cum
ming high-crowned bonnets can be made.
This will givea new interest in the dol
lies.
Bring out some of the worthless maya.
zines and picture papers (but none that
contain hideous pictures), and a pair Of
scissors with blunt points. Children
love to cut paper, and even the pictures
in the advertisements in this day of in
genious advertising are attractive to
small ideas and small fingers. AS the
pictures are cut they should be placed
neatly in box.
A child three or four years old can
learn in few moments to cut rude dolls
from a common newspaper. Fold a
piece of paper, once lengthwise. Begin
at the top, then cut sort of half circle
for the head, then cut the neck, arms,
waist, skirts and feet; open it and call it a
paper doll.
1t is fun to make dear little dumping
dollies, great big mamma dolIies and all
sizes of dollies.
From paper store procure sheets Of
glazed paper in prismatic colors, and cut
out strips half an inch wide and three
inches long. Provide the child with few
drops of mucilsge in tiny dish and little
brush, and show him how to paste each
strip into ring by tapping the ends q
little; interlacing them SO as to form
chain-much as children make dandelion
chains. Again, cut inch or half inch
squares, or small round pieces from the
bright papers. Out straws into pieces
an inch long, and allow the children to
string them, alternating first straw
and then paper.
This is charming work for the little fin
gers. Use only the primary colors red,
yellow and blue at first, repeating them,
so that each third link or paper, will be
red, each third one yellow, ETC., until the
children have become familiar with these
and then use orange, purple or violet and
green also, teaching from what primary
colors they are formed. This can all be
easily found in the dictionary, if it is not
familiar. Teach also with regard to the
forms and texture Of the papers; for all
this adds to the interest; and perfect neat
ness in doing the work should be gently
insisted upon.
The books which Santa Claus brought
last Christmas are full of pictures of lit
tie maids in Mother Hubbards, small
boys in breeches and big hats, pigs,
dogs, etc-all very attractive. Place a
piece of firm paper over one of these pict-
ures, and, pressed against the window
pane draw the principal lines. Pin this
paper over cushion, and direct the child
to follow the lines with row Of perfora-
tons made with small black-headed pin.
The last two suggestions are limitations
of kindergarten employments, and regu-
lar kindergarten materials can be procur-
ed which will save trouble. The plays
should be short, as they are trying to the
eyes; and if they are rightly directed they
are very instructive and really Fascinating.
1t is surprising how beautifully little
children can do this work, and great in
genuity can be used in FASTING colored
papers into pretty forms. = Christian
Union.